Theatrical pistol Victoria Libertore will return to Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) in a multipart event, serving up a four-night run of GIRL MEAT February 3-6, 2011. Intrigued by the true story of alleged serial killer Countess Erzsébet Báthory, solo performer Libertore channels her essence with intensity, a dose of insanity and many drops of bloody humor. Over a year in the making, the world premiere marks Libertore's fifth solo production. A corresponding multimedia art exhibit co-curated by Victoria Libertore, Jen-Scott Mobley and Jessy Ventura, Becoming Báthory, will be housed in DNA's galleries January 22 - March 17, 2011.
The appropriately graphic title, GIRL MEAT, references the alleged 600 plus girls that were tortured and murdered by the Hungarian Countess during the 16th Century. Spotlighting society's penchant for stories that demoralize and destroy women, Libertore will demonstrate the surprising humanity of a woman that has been glamorized, fetishized and villainized. Speaking directly to the audience and incorporating both improvisation and physical theatre, Libertore will evoke compassion and humor while bringing a frightening, unpredictable element to the character.
"In GIRL MEAT, I use storytelling to engage the audience, to incite genuine fear, developing the unleashed attributes of Báthory, her horrific acts and her unassuming victims. All the while, I explore why we find naked, twisted-up, bloodied bodies of women fascinating," says Victoria Libertore. "The distinctive space at DNA is affording me the unique opportunity to tell Báthory's story through a series of rich layers. The Countess is present from the moment people enter DNA. Her legend unravels throughout the facility, up the stairs into the second floor gallery space, and into the theater, where her haunting existence is reawakened. Despite Báthory's wicked ways, I hope audiences connect with the performances, and in turn, expose their own inner darkness."
By supplying multiple avenues for expression, DNA invites artists to craft a cohesive statement, offering viewers a larger window into the artist's vision. Central to the organization's mission to tender education and performance opportunities for artists, DNA provides an environment where wide-ranging mediums of art, performance and dance education can be experienced and exchanged. The Gallery@DNA was constructed to provide needed space for the visual elements of dance and to offer a collaborative and active setting that shares the expansiveness of the field of dance.
"Whenever possible we integrate the gallery and theater presentations to offer audiences a deeper understanding of the presented work, a connection between visual and movement art, and offer insight into the complexity and multiple layers of the artist. An artist's process is much more than the final product and the gallery supports the full vision, creating a more rewarding cultural experience," says Catherine Peila, Executive Director. "Victoria Libertore's exhibit, combined with her impassioned live performance, defines her path and makes a commanding artistic statement. Her work packs an immediate punch, resonating with viewers long afterwards, much like the legend of her bloody muse."
An actress, writer, teacher, curator and improv artist, Victoria Libertore has been writing and performing her own work for nearly 14 years. She has performed in NYC at Barrow Street Theater, BAX, Caroline's on Broadway, Dixon Place, DNA, HERE, Joyce Soho, New Dance Alliance, PS122, Six Figures Theatre Company and terraNOVA Collective. She has also toured her work in Boston, D.C., Montreal, Philadelphia, Provincetown and Toronto. Her physical theater shows include GIRL MEAT and My Journey of Decay (directed by Rosalie Purvis), Camille: The Forgotten Artist (directed by Sara Laudonia), stalk(her) directed by Kimberly I. Kefgen, The Should Dream (directed by Ryan Migge) and V-Ville (in collaboration with Tony nominee
Rebecca Feldman). Her plays include A Man with a Limp (Dopplegäng Festival), How Crazy Joe Met His Wife (produced and published by Estrogenius) and Monster and Lola (Humana Festival Finalist). Libertore hosts (impersonating
Liza Minnelli) and curates her own variety shows. She teaches performance workshops incorporating her original, archetypal energy technique. Libertore is currently an artist adviser at BAX and serves on the board of New Dance Alliance. She has a BFA in Theatre from Otterbein College and her studies include Balinese mask with Per Brahe and Grotowski with Raïna von Waldenberg.
GIRL MEAT performs February 3 - 6. Performance times are: Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8:00pm and Sunday at 3:00pm.
For more information and tickets, visit http://www.dnadance.org/site/performances/tickets/
